One of the toughest road trips started the conference season, with comeback efforts coming up short for the Northwest College women’s basketball team, falling to Western Wyoming 78-55 and Casper College 84-65 on Friday and Saturday.

WESTERN WYOMING 78, NORTHWEST 55

After a strong non-conference season the Trappers (11-8 overall, 0-2 Region IX North) were hoping for a strong start to Region IX play in Rock Springs on Friday against the Mustangs (7-13 overall, 2-0 Region IX North).

Northwest trailed out of the gate 10-0 until a free throw by Carolina Ruiz finally got them on the board with 5:08 left.

Western continued to dictate the scoring contest, leading 21-8 after the first quarter.

The Mustangs continued to pour it on, leading 26-8 early in the second and forcing a timeout from Northwest two minutes into the quarter.

Strong 3-point shooting compared to the Trappers helped Western push the lead out to 18 multiple times in the second quarter.

With less than two minutes left in the half the Mustangs were finally able to push it out to more than 20, making it 39-18.

Northwest was unable to get any closer, and went into the locker room down 41-20 at the half.

A quick burst out the gates for the Mustangs continued to grow the lead, making it 55-26 with four minutes left in the third quarter.

Western kept its foot on the gas, making it a 30-point advantage following a timeout and sending Northwest searching for answers.

The Trappers got a run late in the third and early in the fourth, cutting the lead down to as little as 10, trailing 61-51 with six minutes remaining.

“I think that’s the thing we took from that game is that it showed a lot of character from our team,” coach Lauren Davis said. “It’s very easy once you get down 20 or 30 to just roll over and die. They showed a ton of fight and grit. I hope that is a learning lesson for if we are down in that situation again.”

However, the Mustangs’ strong shooting continued to keep them ahead and with a 10-0 run over the next four minutes Western held off any hopes of a miracle comeback.

Northwest put on a strong effort in the second half but was unable to complete the comeback as Western finished with a 78-55 victory.

“It was too little too late at that point. We went on our run but we were too far behind to close the deal. I was super proud and it showed a lot of character,” Davis said. “We talked after about how conference games are a completely different beast.”

Bianca Silva led in most statistical categories for the Trappers, finishing with 20 points, six rebounds and five steals.

CASPER COLLEGE 84, NORTHWEST 65

On Saturday the Trappers made the trip to Casper, hoping to upset the No. 23-ranked Thunderbirds (17-4 overall, 3-0 Region IX North).

Northwest came out firing, taking a 9-2 lead over the first three minutes.

Then turnovers led to points for Casper College, with a 10-3 run tieing the game for the Thunderbirds and eventually taking the lead at 14-12.

Both teams exchanged baskets the rest of the way, as the Thunderbirds held a 17-16 lead after the first quarter.

“They had one goal and that was to get better than the night before,” Davis said. 

In the second, the teams continued to exchange baskets with the hosts continuing to hold a slight lead up 27-25 midway through the quarter.

Northwest tied the contest multiple times at 27 and 30 before an 11-0 run gave Casper control just before the break, but a Roxanne Rogers 3-pointer at the horn made it 41-33 at the half.

Out of the locker room the Trappers made a quick run, with a Tayva Phillips 3-pointer cutting it down to 41-38 2:30.

Casper responded and continued to hold the Trappers away, pushing the lead back out to double-digits at 50-40 just before the midway point of the quarter.

Northwest continued to battle, but was unable to cut the lead down to single digits the rest of the quarter and trailed 65-50 heading into the fourth.

“Transition and turnovers was the bottom line for us,” Davis said. “If we missed or if we turned it over we’ve got to get better at getting back. If we had eliminated half of their transition points it was a winnable game.”

An extended scoring drought for Northwest spilled into the fourth, and Casper College took advantage to build a 71-50 lead with just under seven minutes remaining in the game.

The lead was as many as 26, and Northwest got as close as 16 but was unable to find a late comeback as the Trappers fell 84-65.

“Casper and Western is probably one of the toughest road trips we will have this year,” Davis said.

Rogers led with 19 points, Kamalani Anitielu had 17 and Silva had 14 points.

Northwest finished with 29 turnovers compared to 17 for the Thunderbirds, and were outrebounded 48-29.

HOME CONTESTS

Northwest will return home after the quick road trip, hosting three games this week starting on Thursday.

That first game will be against Eastern Wyoming College (8-11 overall, 2-0 Region IX North) at 5:30 p.m. at Cabre Gym.

“I’m really excited to have home games now,” Davis said. “Hopefully we can start to click and get the ball rolling.”

The Trappers will then take Friday off before taking on Laramie County Community College (7-11 overall, 0-2 Region IX North) on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Northwest will wrap up the busy week on Tuesday, hosting Central Wyoming College (7-13 overall, 0-2 Region IX North) at 4 p.m.

WESTERN WYOMING 78, NORTHWEST 55

Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()

Points — Bianca Silva 20, Anna Knight 7, Tayva Phillips 6, Kamalani Anitielu 6, Tyne Killip 4, Roxanne Rogers 4, Isabella Gurie 4, Jai’La Porter 2, Carolina Ruiz 1, Kelsi Nicholson 1

Rebounds — Bianca Silva 6 (1), Isabella Gurie 6, Tyne Killip 5 (2), Roxanne Rogers 5 (1), Kamalani Anitielu 2, Anna Knight 2 (1), Selen Ucak 2, Tayva Phillips 1, Carolina Ruiz 1

Assists — Carolina Ruiz 3, Tayva Phillips 2, Bianca Silva 2, Tyne Killip 1, Roxanne Rogers 1, Jai’La Porter 1

Steals — Bianca Silva 5, Tayva Phillips 2, Kelsi Nicholson 2, Tyne Killip 1, Kamalani Anitielu 1, Carolina Ruiz 1

Blocks — Bianca Silva 1, Isabella Gurie 1

CASPER COLLEGE 84, NORTHWEST 65

Points — Roxanne Rogers 19, Kamalani Anitielu 17, Bianca Silva 14, Tayva Phillips 8, Isabella Gurie 3, Selen Ucak 2, Carolina Ruiz 2

Rebounds — Roxanne Rogers 6 (2), Tyne Killip 5 (3), Kamalani Anitielu 4, Tayva Phillips 3 (1), Isabella Gurie 3 (2), Selen Ucak 2, Bianca Silva 2, Carolina Ruiz 1

Assists — Bianca Silva 4, Roxanne Rogers 3, Selen Ucak 2, Carolina Ruiz 2, Tayva Phillips 1, Kamalani Anitielu 1

Steals — Carolina Ruiz 3, Roxanne Rogers 2, Tayva Phillips 1, Kamalani Anitielu 1, Bianca Silva 1

Blocks — Bianca Silva 2, Isabella Gurie 2